Villa Santa Cruz, Todos Santos

There’s no better way to describe a stay at Villa Santa Cruz other than magical. The B&B, located on the beaches of Todos Santos, is literally a little slice of heaven in Baja Sur. Everything from the picturesque guest villa to the relaxing pool to the stunning beach location makes for an enchanting experience.

Matt and Jessica Canepa, the owners of Villa Santa Cruz, are Americans who built the villa from the ground up. Now in their fifth season as hosts of the B&B, they do everything to make sure that your stay with them is unforgettable. When we first arrived at the villa, we were immediately greeted by Matt who made delicious welcome margaritas for us to enjoy while he showed us around.

The villa is exquisite with each room more beautiful than the next. Decorated with authentic wood and wrought iron Mexican furniture and colorful artisan pieces, the place looks like something out of a movie (check out the floating glass staircase that is absolutely superb). Every detail is in line with the aesthetic of the villa. Our room, Agave, also came complete with beautiful views of the pool and the beach.

The pool is perfectly heated to 87 degrees and comes complete with a large jacuzzi, lots of comfortable chaise lounges and a hammock. Over towards the beach, there’s a large palapa (replete with a comfy sleeping loft), that sits up on the sand dunes overlooking the magnificent, and usually fairly empty, beach. They have beach towels, coolers, beach chairs and sunscreen all available for guest use. There’s also a cask of Tequila (first shot is on the house) as well as wine and beer (all available on the honor system) if you want to really relax and enjoy your time.

Adding to the magical experience of Villa Santa Cruz is the fact that it’s located just five miles north of the quaint colonial town of Todos Santos (one of Mexico’s “Pueblos Mágicos”). It’s lovely to spend the afternoon walking around the small town and popping into art galleries or enjoying a stroll around the plaza. We went for dinner at Cáfe Santa Fe, a famously delicious Italian restaurant in town. Matt gave us a great suggestion to order the fish carpaccio and the lobster ravioli – the entire meal was divine.

After dinner we returned to the villa, which was all lit up with candles giving it an ethereal glow. We enjoyed the Jacuzzi under a blanket of stars with the sounds of the waves crashing in the background. Tiki torches light the outdoor areas at night. They have fire pits set up on the roof so you can also enjoy the stars and evening up there as well.

We slept with the French doors open in our room, listening to the sounds of the waves crashing under the cover of our mosquito net. In the morning we awoke to find a basket of hot coffee and tea ready for us right outside the door. When we had finished enjoying our morning coffee on the balcony, looking out at the ocean, we went downstairs to have breakfast, which is served in the outdoor dining area. We took a walk on the beach, lounged in the shade of the palapa loft for a bit and then, sadly had to leave paradise.

It’s truly a special treat to stay at Villa Santa Cruz. It’s a great spot for couples, friends, families – anyone looking to enjoy Todos Santos, surf (the famous La Pastora surf break is just a 10-minute walk from the villa) or just relax and enjoy life.